What to replace first: tires or control arms

[04LJ]

jeep has a wobble at 45-65 or so. Don’t drive much faster than that. Posted earlier on here and most opinions are the tires. Brought it to 4 x 4 shop and was told the tires are uneven wear and featherd. Also the control arms could be replaced. Basically the question is simple: have enough right now for just 1 if those so what would be the best? Apparently what’s happened is after I replaced all the old worn parts on the front end ( ball joints, new crown steering , unit bearings , brakes, u joints, sway bar disconnects, track bar) I am now feeling the worn tires That uneven wear was caused by the worn parts and now that’s all tight the wear is much more noticible Any thoughts...?

Thanks again

 

[04LJ]

I should say no death wobble was found also

jeep has a wobble at 45-65 or so. Don’t drive much faster than that. Posted earlier on here and most opinions are the tires. Brought it to 4 x 4 shop and was told the tires are uneven wear and featherd. Also the control arms could be replaced. Basically the question is simple: have enough right now for just 1 if those so what would be the best? Apparently what’s happened is after I replaced all the old worn parts on the front end ( ball joints, new crown steering , unit bearings , brakes, u joints, sway bar disconnects, track bar) I am now feeling the worn tires That uneven wear was caused by the worn parts and now that’s all tight the wear is much more noticible Any thoughts...?

Thanks again[/QUOT

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Go with new good quality tires and make sure the shop hears you loud and clear that you want them balanced "perfectly", not just 'good enough' as most shops do. Don't bother telling that to the salesman selling the tires, he'll talk it up like they'll be perfect and then forget what he said. You want to talk with the guy who will actually be balancing the tires, let him know that a balance that may be good enough for smaller tires on a car won't be good enough for bigger Jeep size tires. And if you get ANY shimmy or vibration after you have your new tires, go back and have them rebalanced. Once it took a shop three attempts in one day before they finally decided to spend enough time on my 35" tires to get them perfect.

The OE factory arms work better and hold up on the trail better than most people would suspect. They actually have a very cool design that allows them to be strong in the directions they need to be strong & stiff in yet flexible so they can twist in directions that help the suspension flex more easily when offroad.

 

[Shatto]

jeep has a wobble at 45-65 or so. Don’t drive much faster than that. Posted earlier on here and most opinions are the tires. Brought it to 4 x 4 shop and was told the tires are uneven wear and featherd. Also the control arms could be replaced. Basically the question is simple: have enough right now for just 1 if those so what would be the best? Apparently what’s happened is after I replaced all the old worn parts on the front end ( ball joints, new crown steering , unit bearings , brakes, u joints, sway bar disconnects, track bar) I am now feeling the worn tires That uneven wear was caused by the worn parts and now that’s all tight the wear is much more noticible Any thoughts...?

Thanks again

If you replace tires and the problem was worn out suspension and steering,
wouldn't you just damage new tires?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

If you replace tires and the problem was worn out suspension and steering,
wouldn't you just damage new tires?

The shop just said the control arms "could" be replaced, shops usually find stuff to replace to pad the bill. A simple toe-in adjustment is very likely all that is needed, the steering doesn't often wear out in such a way that it needs more than a quick toe-in adjustment. Feathered tires as the OP has normally just indicate the toe-in is off.

 

[Chris]

X2 to what Jerry said!

 

[Xposure]

Before I spent all my money on tires I’d look at everything real close. With the car off I’d get someone to turn the steering wheel back and forth and look for play in the joints where one side is moving and the other side of the joint isn’t. I’d look at all the joints of the front track bar, the anti sway bars. Make sure everything looks great and it nice and tight.

Do you have free balance and rotate from somewhere? If so you may just consider balancing them and rotating them. If the tires are bad it might be worthwhile to rotate them to the rear and see if the issue moves to the rear (which you can rotate at home). That would let you know for sure that you have a tire issue.

 

[04LJ]

The shop just said the control arms "could" be replaced, shops usually find stuff to replace to pad the bill. A simple toe-in adjustment is very likely all that is needed, the steering doesn't often wear out in such a way that it needs more than a quick toe-in adjustment. Feathered tires as the OP has normally just indicate the toe-in is off.

He said the arm bushings look worn. However, I had NO issues BEFORE I did any work. I checked and rechecked the castle nuts and that everything is tight. He had it up and looked at the work and said it was tight. I brought the Jeep to Costco and they balanced the ties. I know they are worn but 2 still have plenty of tread, the other 2 ( that were on the front before the work) are worn more. I agree, the tires seem to be the culprit even though the arms need to be done as well. But for sure the tires are VERY loud and choppy if u will when I drive it on the road. If that makes sense

 

[04LJ]

Before I spent all my money on tires I’d look at everything real close. With the car off I’d get someone to turn the steering wheel back and forth and look for play in the joints where one side is moving and the other side of the joint isn’t. I’d look at all the joints of the front track bar, the anti sway bars. Make sure everything looks great and it nice and tight.

Do you have free balance and rotate from somewhere? If so you may just consider balancing them and rotating them. If the tires are bad it might be worthwhile to rotate them to the rear and see if the issue moves to the rear (which you can rotate at home). That would let you know for sure that you have a tire issue.

I don’t have free balance. Any ideas on tire shops? I’m in Chicago. I have all kinds of options. There is a 4 wheel parts about 1/2 hour away. Are they good for tires? I have rotated the bar to the rear and the wobble / vibration still occurs

 

[Shatto]

The shop just said the control arms "could" be replaced, shops usually find stuff to replace to pad the bill. A simple toe-in adjustment is very likely all that is needed, the steering doesn't often wear out in such a way that it needs more than a quick toe-in adjustment. Feathered tires as the OP has normally just indicate the toe-in is off.

AND Firestone has Lifetime Alignment:
https://www.firestonecompleteautocare.com/repair/alignment/

https://www.firestonecompleteautocare.com/repair/alignment/alignment-results/

 

[AndyG]

First , get the tires right , there are 4 of them spinning and you can't tell much else til you do in some cases.

If the jeep body moves or sags ,like diagonally , when stopping or starting , typically that's control arm and/or other suspension bushings .

My Jeep was a mess. Low miles , drove horrible .

Terrible tires , also not balanced , and all suspension bushings were mush . Soft, hard , cracked , etc .

I'm not saying you have all that , but you have to go through the things that cause or allow movement .

Mine drives like a dream now ...they can be fixed.

 

[04LJ]

So if I end up getting tires any thoughts on a decent fair priced 33”? I have had good experience with bf Goodrich but that was 25 yrs ago. I prefer mud terrain type

 

[Jerry Bransford]

So if I end up getting tires any thoughts on a decent fair priced 33”? I have had good experience with bf Goodrich but that was 25 yrs ago. I prefer mud terrain type

It's very hard to beat the BFG Mud Terrain KM3, plus it looks really bitchin'. My #1 personal preference is the Goodyear MT/R whose sidewall is reinforced by kevlar. I've been running MT/Rs for over 15 years now, love 'em.

 

[04LJ]

It's very hard to beat the BFG Mud Terrain KM3, plus it looks really bitchin'. My #1 personal preference is the Goodyear MT/R whose sidewall is reinforced by kevlar. I've been running MT/Rs for over 15 years now, love 'em.

good to know i will look into both of those. thanks for your input once again

 

[04LJ]

Go with new good quality tires and make sure the shop hears you loud and clear that you want them balanced "perfectly", not just 'good enough' as most shops do. Don't bother telling that to the salesman selling the tires, he'll talk it up like they'll be perfect and then forget what he said. You want to talk with the guy who will actually be balancing the tires, let him know that a balance that may be good enough for smaller tires on a car won't be good enough for bigger Jeep size tires. And if you get ANY shimmy or vibration after you have your new tires, go back and have them rebalanced. Once it took a shop three attempts in one day before they finally decided to spend enough time on my 35" tires to get them perfect.

The OE factory arms work better and hold up on the trail better than most people would suspect. They actually have a very cool design that allows them to be strong in the directions they need to be strong & stiff in yet flexible so they can twist in directions that help the suspension flex more easily when offroad.

So got back in the area and took it to Discount tire. Before I confirmed to have the tires balanced, asked if they have balanced 33" tires before and they said yes, no problem. I waited for a bit, the tech came and moved the jeep inside. I asked him to please get it right, gave him some extra cash. He said he would get it as close as he could. I watched him put the tires on the machine and when he had a minute I asked him how they were. He said the first one was off by 7oz. And that the tires were counter balanced and whoever did them before did it wrong. I just had them balanced a month ago, drove maybe 150 mi on it as it's not a daily driver and they were only street miles, at coscto. Long story short, much thanks to @Jerry Bransford for the simple advice. Tires. Period. Also, it's good to know my front end work is not to blame!